A scathing report slammed rampant profiteering and "chaotic" ticketing systems as an "insult" to the public.

One example included 34 different fares for the journey from London to Manchester, ranging from just £6 to £317.

MPs want the Government to control "exorbitant" fares that are pushing passengers off trains on to congested roads.

The Commons transport committee said: "Passengers are held to ransom by a system that is deeply flawed. The situation is deeply unacceptable."

The report said standard open tickets bought the day of travel are "absurdly high" and out of reach of most people.

It blasted profit-hungry firms for a "see how much we can get away with" attitude that "has put the thumbscrews on passengers who have no option but to travel on peakhour trains. Such behaviour has brought not only individual operators but the railways in general into disrepute."

Gwyneth Dunwoody, the committee chairman said: "The public are being exploited" and the Government must "flex its muscles".

But George Muir, head of the Association of Train Operating Companies, called the report "completely over the top" and said the only way to cut fares would be bigger subsidies of taxpayers' cash.

Rail Minister Derek Twigg admitted the pricing system needed to be simplified, but failed to promise to lean on firms to cut fares. Instead, he said: "This is a challenge and a responsibility for operators."

Meera Rambissoon, of the Transport 2000 campaign group, said: "We have a two-tier railway - one for seasoned travellers who know the system and another for the bulk of us who pay through the nose."